Apparatus for washing gas



(No Model.) 2 S O. F. LEIBERT. I

' APPARATUS FOR WASHING GAS.

Patented Nov. 30,1897.

0 FAN R l a m =1. Karl-1n l Witnesses NTTED -TATES ATENT rrrcn.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,480, dated November 30, 1897.

I Application filed April 8, 1896. Serial No. 586,665. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OWEN F. LEIBERT, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Washing and Cleansing Artificial Gas, of which the following is a description, referring to the accompanying drawings,

which form a part of this specification.

The invention relates particularly to apparatus adapted to be used in freeing artificial combustible gases from solid matter and from certain soluble and deleterious gases which are not combustible, so that the full benefit of all the heat of combustion of the gases may be derived, and the objectionable depositing of solid or other incombustible and inert material under the boilers, in the flues, and in the regenerative stoves, or at other points may be prevented.

As an additional object of the invention may be mentioned the consequent lengthening of the life of the boilers and other apparatus, as well as increased heating efficiency, owing to the absence of deposits of inert and nonconducting materials. Though particularly adapted for these uses, my apparatus is not limited to such uses, and I do not meanto so limit this patent.

The invention is of so simple a nature that it will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one preferred embodiment of it.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation showing the foundation and certain other parts in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section looking from the right of Fig.

- 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section looking downward from the section-planes 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. i is a cross-section of the sprinkler cap or head of the apparatus, and Fig. 5 is an in verted plan view of the same.

Throughout the drawings like letters of reference indicate like or similar parts.

The gases or gas to be washed or cleansed from the finely-divided solid or other matter (which is in suspension or in the form of vapor in the gases or in some cases in the form of soluble gas) are conveyed from the top of the furnace or other generator through the pipe P into the upper portion of the receiver R, which is preferably of the form shown in the drawings-- to wit, a vertical pipe closed at the top and running down into the enlarged lower chamber or portion, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The head S of the receiver R is provided with automatic sprinkling devices supplied with water through the pipe 8. As the gases enter the upper end of the receiver they are met by a shower of water from the head S. The water falls in a shower or spray directly through the pipe-shaped upper portion R of the receiver R, through the downward extension R", and into the pan F. The enlarged portion or shell R of the receiver R is open at the bottom and extends into the pan F, so as to be below the overflow F of the pan. The water in the pan being therefore always above the open bottom of the receiver forms a water seal and prevents the escape of the gases. The gases passing downward from the pipe P through the portions of the receiver R R and expanding freely into the enlarged shell or portion R are thoroughly washed by the finely-divided shower or spray of water, and when they pass out through the outlet or discharge P they are thoroughly freed from dust and other finely-divided solid matter and from such soluble gases and vapors as are readily condensed by and soluble in the water. The pipe P therefore carries off only the purified gases which are freed entirely or to a very large extent from inert and non-combustible impurities. The water carrying these impurities falls directly into the pan F and deposits the solid matter at the bottom of the pan. The pan may be provided with the inclined surface f, and by means of this the deposit in the pan F may be from time to time removed, while the surplus water and all the impurities which are in solutionor suspension in the water pass out through the over-- As clearly shown by the cross-secflow F. tions, Figs. 2 and 3, the pipe-shaped portion R, which extends down into the enlarged shell R', is preferably cut away or open at the side remote from the outlet or discharge pipe P, so that the depending plate 0" deflects the gases and prevents their flowing directly from the pipe B into the outlet P. Owing to this deflection-plate r the gases therefore circulate in the enlarged shell R before escaping through the discharge-pipe P to the point of combustion.

The automatic sprinkler or sprinkler-head TOO S may be formed as in Figs. 4 and 5. The tube or conduit 0 is formed by means of the annular ring M, and the water-supply pipe 3 discharges directly into this circumferential conduit 0. Two sets of suitably-perforated spray-pipes c extend across the head S and communicate at each end with the conduit 0. The open ends of these two sets of pipes 0 pass through the inner wall of the water space or conduit O and are suitably secured therein in the outer wall. Exactly opposite the ends of the several tubes are the series of removable plugs. (Shown in full in Fig. 4 and dotted in Fig. 5.) These plugs enable the tubes to be readily put in place and removed, but their most important function is to give read y access for cleaning out the tubes when stopped by sediment. Being just opposite the ends of the tubes, as shown, a cleaningrod may be run through any of the tubes by merely removing one of these plugs. It will be seen also that the annular conduit C is closed at the top by the plate at, by the removal of which the whole interior of the conduit C and all the pipes c are exposed for cleaning or repair. Moreover, in case of explosion of the gas the plate 911, if broken, may be replaced at small cost. The pipes 0, however, serve as a protection to the plate on to a considerable extent from the destructive force of explosions. The position and relation of the parts are clearly shown in Fig. 4. The plate m closes the top of the receiver R and prevents the escape of gases from the receiver. The water flowing freely from the pipe 5 around the annular conduit C is distributed to the pipes c and issues through the perforations 0 (clearly shown in Fig. 5) in a finely-divided spray or shower which, as already stated, falls through the receiver into the pan F, taking with it the impurities from the gases. It will of course be understood that while I show this as a good form of spraying device it illustrates merely one type of a considerable variety of perforated apparatus for producing a spray or shower, and in using the expression spraying device or automatic shower device I do not mean to limit myself to the form shown.

In addition to the sprayer-head an annular spraying-pipe Z, surrounding the tube R, may be used. (Clearlyshown in Fig. 2.) This spray acts upon the circulating and ascending currents in the enlarged portion of the receiver R. hen such a sprayer is used, or indeed any other sprayer outside of the pipe R, it may be supplied from the same source as the head of the pipe R or otherwise.

It will be seen that the annular sprayingpipe Z is located near the junction of the outer wall of the shell R and of the pipe R. \Vhen water is admitted through the pipe Z, it wets and runs down both these surfaces, serving the important function of cooling them. This is particularly important when the water from any cause is shut off at s from the sprayer-head.

I have now described fully one preferred form of my apparatus for washing and cleansing the artificial gases. I purposely omit the description of the furnaces, regenerative stoves, and other apparatus with which it is most advantageously employed, and I also omit the enumeration of several ways in which two or more of these apparatuses may be combined, because to set these forth at length would obscure rather than make clear the more essential features of my invention. For the same reason I have omitted matters of more detail and modification.

I claim, however, and desire to secure by these Letters Patent,together with such mod ifications as may be made by mere skill in the art and with such defining alterations as are therein expressed or implied in view of the related arts, the following:

1. In apparatus for washing or cleansing gases, a vertical receiver provided with an expanded or enlarged lower portion contracting at its base where it enters the water seal, the admission-pipe at or near the upper end, the discharge-pipe leading from the said expanded or enlarged portion, the continuation of the upper portion extending down within the said expanded or enlarged portion, means for-introducing water in a shower or other suitable form into the upper portion of the said receiver, and a water seal into which the said receiver opens and is in part submerged, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for washing or cleansing gases, a receiver provided with an expanded or enlarged lower portion, the admission-pipe at or near the upper end, the discharge-pipe leading from the said expanded or enlarged portion, the continuation R of the portion extending down within the said expanded or enlarged portion, and open on the side re mote from the discharge-pipe, means for i11- troducing water in a shower or other suitable form into the said receiver, and means for Withdrawing surplus water and depositing impurities from the said shell, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus for washing or cleansing gases, the receiver R comprising a shell or chamber R, a pipe, passage or portion R opening laterallyand extending into the said shell or chamber, an outlet or discharge 1 therefrom opening from the said receiver at a point remote from the open side of the said pipe, passage or portion R, whereby the gases entering the said shell or chamber from the said pipe, passage or portion R will circulate before passing out through the said outlet or discharge, means for introducing water into the said shell or chamber, and means for withdrawing water and deposits therefrom, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus for washing or cleansing gases, the combination of a receiver provided with suitable water-supply, a pan F into which the said receiver opens and is partially submerged, so as to form a water seal, means for'introducing and discharging the gases into and out of the said receiver, and a sprin kler-head consisting of an annular conduit or Water-chamber, and perforated pipes extending across the space included by said annular conduit, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for washing and cleansing gases, the vertical pipe or passage, to the upper portion of Which the gases to be Washed are supplied, in combination with spraying apparatus at the upper endof said vertical pipe or passage, the enlarged shell or chamber R and the supplemental sprinkling device Z therefor, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the descending vertical passage or pipe for the gases, the spraying device delivering water into the said descending passage or pipe, the enlarged shell into which the said descending passage or pipe opens and projects, and the secondary annular spraying-pipe Z delivering water against the inner surface of the said shell and the outer surface of the lower end of said descending passage or pipe, substantially as set forth.

7. In a spraying or sprinkling head, the channel or conduit 0, the removable plate m closing the said channel or conduit at the top, and spraying or sprinkling devices receiving Water from said channel of conduit, substantially as set forth.

8. In a spraying or sprinkling head, the channel or conduit 0, the removable plate m closing the said channel or conduit at the top, and spraying or sprinkling pipes 0 extending across beneath the said plate m and supplied from the said channel or conduit, substantially as set forth.

9. In a spraying or sprinkling head, the channel or conduit ,0, the removable plate m closing the said channel or. conduit at the top, and spraying or sprinkling pipes 0 extending across beneath the said plate m through the inner wall of the said channel or conduit and opening therein, substantially as set forth. 1

10. In a spraying or sprinkling head, the channel or conduit 0, the removable plate on closing the said channel or conduit at the top, and spraying or sprinkling pipes 0 extending across beneath the said plate 'm and open into the said channel or conduit, and plugs in the outer Wall of the said channel or conduit opposite the open ends of the said pipes, substantially as set forth.

11. In a spraying or sprinkling head, the channel or conduit, a source of Water-supply therefor, the series of perforated pipes 0 extending from the Wall of the said channel or conduit and opening therein, and the series of plugs in the Wall of said channel or conduit opposite the open ends of the said pipes c.

12. In combination with or in a gas-Washing apparatus, the spraying-head, including a channel or conduit extending around the upper end of the said apparatus, the series of transverse perforated pipes a open at both ends into the said channel or conduit and extending through the inner Wall thereof, and the series of plugs in the outer wall thereof opposite the open ends of the several pipes 0 whereby the water may freely flow from the conduit into the said pipes and whereby the said pipes may be readily cleaned, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this 4th day of April, A. D. 1896, attested by the signatures of the two subscribing Witnesses.

OIVEN F. LEIBERT. 

